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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

GUEST BLOG: From Abby - She's Back At Square 0

Even though I'm gone I didn't want to leave you guys hanging... so I'd like to introduce you to one of my Twitter friends, Abby. She's very inspiring to me and I think this post will show you why.

Hello all,

I'm Abby from
BackAtSquareZero. A while ago I decided to change my life and get in
shape. I went from barely being able to run to the mailbox to
training for my second marathon. People ask me what in the world
would make me crazy enough top want to run 26.2 miles, or how my
training is going, but the question I get asked the most is - "How
do you stay motivated?" Don't get me wrong, I'm not
perfect (unless you ask my Oma) so I struggle with days I just don't
want to work out. Either I am too busy, too tired, having too much
fun doing something else, or just don't want to leave the couch.
These are the things I have found that help me out the most when I am
having one of those days:

Motivation Tips:

1. Schedule it in
- Whether you use an iPhone, Blackberry, tablet, or old fashioned pen
and paper be sure to write in your workout just as you do every other
task or meeting. It is just as important and you should make sure
you treat it as such. Schedule in runs/walks or find classes at a
local gym or fitness center that you have to go to at specific times.

2. Find a friend
- Recruit one of your own or join a local running, walking, biking
group. Exercising is more pleasant if you have someone to
commiserate with. Plus when you schedule workout dates you are less
likely to skip out (because then you're the jerk that cancelled).

3. Register for an
event - Having a set goal means you have
something to train or work towards. I always try to have something
on my calendar to look forward to. On days I don't feel like running
I remind myself of my next race and how I need, and want, to be
prepared for it. (I'm currently participating in the Runner's
World Summer Run Streak and it gets me out
the door ever day.)

4. Be accountable
- Track everything you do. I keep a blank monthly calendar on my
desk and use it to record my daily workouts. Just be glancing at it
I can see the days I missed a workout (marked with a big X). I hate
having to cross out the days and love getting to write in big workout
numbers. Some days when I am not very motivated I'll record my
workout before I leave. Then I feel like I have to stick to it
because I don't want to cross it out and change it to something less.
I also use MyFitnessPal because I love seeing how many calories my
workouts burn. That really motivates me.

5. Give yourself
rewards - I don't do anything big or do it
very regularly (teacher's salary), but I do allow myself rewards
after I meet a fitness, training, or weight loss goal. At first all
my rewards were food - Whoops! Then I realized that was not helping
me on my quest to get healthy and fit so now my rewards are fitness
based. For example: I promise myself that if I ran all 38 days of
the Runner's World summer run streak I could buy myself a new
Lululemon running tank top. As hot as it is running in my old
t-shirts right now (over 90 today) thinking about that tank really
keeps me going. (This is the one I have my eyes on. Cute right?)

6. Reflect
- Think of how far you have come and be proud of yourself. I keep a
before and after picture of myself near my workout stuff where only I
can see it. When I feel like I don't want to work out I pull it out
and think about how much I have accomplished and how I don't want to
go back to my old life style. Don't have an after picture yet? When
I first started I kept a picture I hated of myself next to my run
shoes, it reminded me of why I wanted to run.

…and my biggest tip….

7. Get out the door!
- Once you make it out and go a few steps chances are you'll want to
go a few, or a lot, more. To do this I put my run clothes on the
minute I get home even if I can't run for a bit. If I still lack
motivation I'll hop on iTunes and download a new song, pop it on my
iPod, & press play. Usually this new music makes me want to get
going and I head out the door. Plus by the time the song is over I'm
already into it and continue. I'll spend $1.29 a few times a month
in order to get my workout in.

I'd love to hear it - What
do you do to stay motivated? Any special tricks?

Any work out, running, or
motivation questions?

Please comment and let me
know

Want to keep the
conversation going?Feel free to talk to me any time. I love to
chat about healthy living and working out.